UT finalizing deal with Jeremy Pruitt to be new head coach

Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt will become the next head coach at Tennessee, according to multiple reports.

He will earn a base salary of $275,000 and supplemental compensation that amounts to $3,525,000, according to a memorandum of understanding signed Thursday by Pruitt, Tennessee athletics director Phillip Fulmer, school chancellor Beverly Davenport and the university's chief financial officer David Miller. After that, he served as the defensive coordinator at Florida State for one season, and spent two seasons as Georgia's defensive coordinator before returning to Alabama in 2016.

He was a Broyles Award Finalist as the nation's top assistant twice and started his player career in the Volunteer State at MTSU. This could end up being a great hire by Fulmer. With Alabama a year ago, Pruitt's defense played a big part in reaching the College Football Playoff national championship game, which resulted in a loss to Clemson.

No. 4 Alabama plays No. 1 Clemson in the Sugar Bowl on January 1 as part of the College Football Playoff.

Tennessee's coaching search has been fraught with controversy and drama since the school fired Butch Jones after the season, with much of the hoopla surrounding Greg Schiano. However, the search for a new coach had been so unsuccessful that it was even jokingly rumored North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un even turned down the job.

FILE - In this August 6, 2016, file photo, Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt works with his players during preseason NCAA college football practice in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Currie met last week with Washington State's Mike Leach and was forced out the next day.

There is one coach that thinks Pruitt is the right man for the job: his former boss, Nick Saban.

FILE - In this March 23, 2016, file photo, Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt works with players during NCAA college football practice in Tuscaloosa, Ala.